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Sam Brown | Yorkshire Dales Family Hikes and Outdoors Life

@thereluctantexplorers

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Exploring the Yorkshire Dales with Kids
🥾 Hikes 🏕️ Stays 🧗‍♀️ Days Out
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👉 And how to find them… Ah it’s a return of the most creepy, weird and quirky places to find in the Dales… This year… there’ve been a few changes! Here’s more… 👻 The abandoned hamlet of Hartlakes is one of my favourites! Super creepy! You can find it on the coast to coast path from Keld to Muker and it’s reportedly got a serious ghost problem… 🧛 From ghosts to vampires! The vampire stone is outside the church in Dent… buried beneath is the Dent vampire. You can find out more about his story at the Dent heritage centre. 🪙 The plague stone on Devil’s Bridge in Kirkby Lonsdale has an inscription on it ‘Feare God, honer the King 1673’. One theory is that it is a plague stone where coins were left soaked in vinegar… although looking at the years… 🤔 😬 The bridge with a soul… reportedly the teeth were originally placed there to give the bridge a soul 🙃 they were replaced when the bridge was resurfaced, by a local dentist! 🪨 The petrifying well at Mother Shipton’s Cave quite literally turns things to stone… ⚰️ Ivelet Bridge boasts a coffin stone, built into the side of the road. It’s on the coffin route from Keld to Grinton. 👶 The holy spring at Kilnsey Park never runs dry, the temperature never drops below 7 degrees and it’s reportedly the ‘fountain of youth’ (I need to go back 🤣) 😈 The Loki Stone is in the parish church and depicts the Norse God Loki 🧝 Druid’s Temple… less temple, more folly, but with a weird story relating to a paid hermit who lived there for a while, it’s certainly a strange one! 🧙 Bull pot of the Witches… so called because of its connection to ‘Witch’s Cave’ which got its name from the sound of a cackling coven concealed within… So… it’s not a finite list (I’ve kept a few up my sleeve for ACTUAL Halloween) but which is your favourite?! 👉REMEMBER to save this for your Halloween amusement! 👉LIKE this post so you can see more! 👉SHARE if you think your friends would enjoy! And 👉 Follow us for more outdoors family adventures in the Yorkshire Dales! #yorkshiredalesnationalpark #folklore #ghoststorie taken in Yorkshire Dales by @thereluctantexplorers
26
7 days ago
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2,000th post… but why should you believe a blummin’ word I say?! 🤣 Well, I’ve explained it. Kinda… 🤪 A whole lifetime of hiking. Over 40 years, I was carried up the fells in the Lakes as a baby, I’ve walked them since I was able to. I grew up in the midlands, hiking holidays were an annual (sometimes bi-annual) event. As an adult? I’ve hiked and hiked and HIKED SOME MORE! Multi day treks, big old mountains before having kids, then since? Living in the Dales has meant we’ve been able to explore it all… FOR YEARS! Hiking holidays have become a 6 time a year thing. And then weekends spend exploring (around hobbies, parties and occasional boring house stuff 🤪🤣) I trained as an HML - I’m first aid trained - I am taking my assessment next year with over 50 quality mountains days under the belt. Should you trust me?! Absolutely not. I’m just a randomer off of social media 🤣😜 If you watched until the end, you’ll realise I have an unhealthy obsession with moss. Definitely a red flag 🚩 🤣 Anyways… if you want to check out my fourth child (after my actual kids and the piano) then search us up - it’s The Reluctant Explorers on Google! 👉 or comment ‘2,000’ and I’ll send you the link! #2000thpost #yorkshiredalesnationalpark #walkingwithkids #oschampion by @thereluctantexplorers
39
4 days ago
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👉 Ad | Can you tell me what’s so important about the Countryside Code? 🤔 Because it is SUCH an important message to share! 🫶 And this year, we’re celebrating 75 years of it! That means 75 years of… 💚 Helping folk to enjoy the countryside responsibly and respectfully 💙 Helping to protect the countryside for future generations 💜 Providing a guide to help people to understand how to respect and protect the landscape But what can we all do to help to protect the countryside for the future? And why?! 🤔 Here are a few elements of the Countryside Code which we use on EVERY adventure… 👉 Properly packing! 🎒 Particularly with the changing seasons… be prepared for all weather, take layers, waterproofs, spares, plenty of food, back up battery packs, first aid kits and as the nights draw in, a headtorch! That’s at the VERY least and on EVERY adventure! 👉 Plan your adventures before you go out - I use @ordnancesurvey paper maps and the OS Maps app - this helps to give accurate time estimates too so you know how much time you have (check your sunset times and weather too) 🗺️ Remember to take your map with you or download your route BEFORE you head out. 👉 Park responsibly. Don’t block roads, gates, drives or prevent access for emergency vehicles. 👉 Leave no Trace. It goes without saying! Take your rubbish home, pick up any you see (safely) 👉 Respect signs asking you to stick to the paths. 🌸 in doing this you’ll also protect delicate species, like wildflowers, or animals such as ground nesting birds, it can help to prevent erosion and damage to the landscape. 👉 Leave gates as you find them. 👉 Respect everybody who lives in, works in or who is out enjoying the countryside. 💚 SHARE this message so it can reach as wide an audience as possible! The Countryside Code is such an important thing to understand ☺️ #countrysidecode #oschampion taken in Yorkshire Dales National Park by @thereluctantexplorers
22
20 days ago
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Just to be clear… 🤣 👇 Looks like it’s pumpkin soup for the foreseeable. 😂 Who else has a dear, DEAR love of pumpkin picking?! 🤓 📍 @birchfieldicecreamfarm near Pateley Bridge 🎃 All shapes and sizes, the more you explore, the bigger the reward! 🍦 There’s ice cream, marshmallow toasting, a crumble stand 🤤 and of course… 🚜 all the fun of the farm! Birchfield pumpkins… 7th pick on the trot. Traditions made. 🙂‍↕️ #pumpkinpicking #yorkshiredales #halloweenactivities taken in Birchfield Ice Cream Farm by @thereluctantexplorers
16
15 hours ago
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What a way to go 🤣 My friends know how much I love a sketchy hunt for a waterfall 🤪 this wasn’t a hunt, we’ve been four times before, but fallen trees and a whole lot of mud makes it extra fun right?! Also, the slipperiest rocks in the Yorkshire Dales HANDS DOWN 🙂‍↕️ Nobody fell. Twice. 🤣 Excellent fungus hunt today though. 🍄 If there’s a hill I will die on, it’ll be one covered with beautiful fungus. Anyway. Nobody died, for those itching for a location - I’m not gate-keeping! It’s a walk on my website - only available to those who are prepared to take the time and effort to do a little research. Path to this one, only for the bravest of explorers! 😉 📍 Wensleydale - the Dale of the waterfalls! 😍 #wensleydale #waterfallhunting #yorkshiredales #walkingwithkids taken in Wensleydale by @thereluctantexplorers
18
2 days ago
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Is it a sign?! 😜 I think so! Who’s out adventuring this weekend? Let me know in the comments! #weekendplans #gooutside #yorkshiredales taken in Yorkshire Dales National Park by @thereluctantexplorers
13
3 days ago
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Details 👇 Tell me… what DIDN’T you already know… because I do love an obscure fact… Ok… I use the word ‘facts’ loosely for some of these things… 👻 But cool right? I particularly love the one about the Aysgarth Falls Hotel which really surprised me when I first heard about it! So let’s find out more… 🩺 The @aysgarth_falls_hotel was built on the site of a hospice, which helped pilgrims returning from Jerusalem back in the Crusades era (so we’re talking 11th Century - medieval times). It was known until recently as the Palmer Flatt hotel (likely to be because of the returning pilgrims were referred to at ‘palmers’) Run by monks of the Order of the Knights Templar (a special order set up to protect the pilgrims) the hotel reportedly has a lingering monk, whose appearance is heralded by the scent of lavender… 🏹 Speaking of the Crusades… Robin Hood’s era… they filmed that famous fight scene in NOVEMBER. The actor who plays Little John said that they spent the full day filming - nothing to keep them warm other than a fire. They had to keep putting their wet costumes back on again and again, with no cold water protection - I’ve been in Wensleydale water in November… it’s COLD! 🥶 👻 More ghosties… the grizzly tale of what is said to be the mill owners son… who according to legend … how can I describe this… was pretty partial to a lady (with or without her consent…) and who was dealt a severe case of rough justice which left him missing a few *ahem* key parts 🍆 and he haunts the mill now (apparently 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🤣) Yore Mill is one of the largest mills in the Dales dating back to 1784 - although the original burned down - it was rebuilt in 1852 and is currently being converted into apartments (WHAT a view! 🤩) 🌊 The fact that the Dales was at the bottom of the sea always astonishes me. You can find fossils and coral, despite being miles from the coast! 📍Aysgarth Falls, Wensleydale, YDNP 🥾 The walk is around 1-2 miles. 👶 Parts are pushchair friendly. 🚙 Park at the visitor centre where you’ll also find a cafe! Which is your favourite fact? Let me know i taken in Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales by @thereluctantexplorers
18
5 days ago
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👉 Details and if you comment ‘Halloween Guide’ … I’ll send you the link to the FULL list of absolutely everything that’s going on around the Yorkshire Dales for kids (from little ones… all the way to teenagers!) Because I’ve been doing this a while 😂 This is probably our list of absolute favs though 🤭 🧙 a Halloween event with an actual real life witch’s cave! @mothershiptonscave is up there with one of the most iconic places to visit at Halloween! This one’s perfect for little ones all the way up to grown ups! 😈 @forbiddencornerofficial has Halloween going on all year round. Except at Halloween? It gets even spookier! Fun for kids and grown ups alike! 🎃 The Halloween Trail at @boltonabbeyestate is an absolute staple. And it finishes at the deadly Strid… (which has its very own legend!) The kids have loved this one since they were toddlers 😍 🖤@stumpcrosscaverns has some excellent spooky stories about it (you can read about them on our Tales of the Dales blog. But their Halloween event is ace … make sure you use your UV torch to find spooky faces in the rock formations! One for all the ages! 👻 The @yorkshire_ghost_tours Skipton ghost walk is ACE for older kids (and grown ups too! 😜) 🎃 @billybobsparlour is an American style diner who pull out the stops for an American style Halloween! Fun (and food!) for everybody! So… who’s going to a spooky event this half term? Not long now… 😱 #halloweenevents #yorkshiredalesnationalpark #kidsevents #familyfriendlyyorkshire taken in Yorkshire Dales by @thereluctantexplorers
32
6 days ago
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Birthday goals… 🎉 I love Malham. But so do so many other people too 🤣. So today we hid in the quiet bits, no people, exploring caves, rocks, shroooooms, falling into several holes… And then when most of everybody headed home, we hit Janet. She was at her best. (But I forgot my boots, so I essentially fell in. 🤣) Moral of the story… excellent birthday shenanigans, but don’t forget your water shoes 🤣) #janetsfoss #malham #yorkshiredalesnationalpark #birthdaygoals by @thereluctantexplorers
27
8 days ago
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👉 You’ve probably driven straight past it…👻 But if you’ve ever driven past the Bolton Abbey Estate, you’ve probably seen the ruins of Barden Tower… 🏰 Have you ever wondered what the ruins are? A castle? A stately home…? 🤔 Well actually it was one of six hunting lodges built back in’t Norman times, in the 12th century. At the time (if you can even imagine!) the Dales was covered in vast swathes of forest… and hunting there was pretty much a luxury for nobles and royalty. 😐 After surviving for hundreds of years, it was extended in the 15th century by the 10th Lord Clifford, before falling into disrepair. Don’t worry though. Kick-ass Lady Anne Clifford came to the rescue (she did a LOT for castles and buildings, wastefully left to ruin in the Dales back in the 17th century restoring such iconic castles as Pendragon and Brough 🏰 Anyway… 👻 With such a huge history behind the building, it’s not surprising that it’s haunted… BY THE SCREAM FROM HELL!!! Yes… bloodcurdling screams are supposed to be heard from the tower ruins at night… terrifying those who hear them. Locals, who are probably pretty used to ghostly goings on in this neck of the woods - Wharfedale has SO many ghost stories, called it… ‘A scream from the depths of hell’ 😈 Or… it could be an owl. 🦉 I’ll let you decide 😂 #yorkshiredales #boltonabbey #ghoststory #spookywalk by @thereluctantexplorers
4
9 days ago
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🔥 Didn’t the sky make it look like @ntfountainsabbey was on fire tonight?! I’m not going to lie. I’m a blummin’ sucker for a great light show. And nature joined in on the fun too! 🌅 Tonight is the first night… it’s on every Friday and Saturday in October and it’s really lush to see Fountains like this! Happy Friday - who’s headed to see it? It’s free for @nationaltrust members too! #fountainsabbey #fountainsbyfloodlight #nidderdale #yorkshiredales taken in Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust by @thereluctantexplorers
25
10 days ago
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👇 In less than 2 miles… 👀 Yes… they were teeth in a bridge 😬 (I know I share them a lot but this is 💯 one of my fav short walks!) In Autumn? THIS IS ACE!! 🍁 Details… 📍 Pateley Bridge, the walk takes you to Bewerley where the woods are found 🚙 Parking is at the honesty car park opposite the park in Pateley Bridge. £1 for 4 hours. 🥾 under 2 miles ⭕️ The walk is a circular 🍄 It’s fly agaric season! ✨ Walk features ducks, the ice house, stick dens and obviously those teeth 🤣 🛝 Finishes at the park 🍦 Grab hot chocolate from @thepancakehouse_ 🍬 Take a trip to the Oldest Sweet Shop in England @oldestsweetshop 📖 The land where Fishpond Wood is found was once owned by the monks of Fountains Abbey, who are likely to be responsible for the damning of the lake and is the reason why the steps down to the woods are called ‘Monk’s Steps’ The ice house is around 200 years old and has been restored so you can see inside. It is home to a few cave spiders though …. 😳 So go onnnnn! 👉 comment ‘TEETH WALK’ for the walk link #yorkshiredales #nidderdale #familywalk #pateleybridge taken in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire by @thereluctantexplorers
39
11 days ago
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